Yachting Monthly visits Boot 16 in Düsseldorf, Europe’s largest boat show, to see the new Django 9.80
Django 980
This thing looks like huge fun. Designed by Mini Transat 6.50 designer Pierre Rolland, who has worked with Brittany-based builder Marée Haute before on previous Djangos, it follows the powerful delta-shaped path and, with twin rudders, I’d expect it to be easy to sail and very quick. Below the waterline you have a choice of fin, twin or lifting keels, which offer 1.95m, 1.55m and 1.1m/2.4m draught respectively.
Sprit, bow roller, windlass, chain locker and huge forecabin window – we happy
At the bow, this model sported an offset carbon sprit for offwind sails, a bow roller and a windlass feeding into a chain locker forward. Good moulded toerails run from bow to stern but, other than the split shrouds, I can’t see much to grab.
Designed to be family friendly, with the traveller well aft, and easily to sail shorthanded
In the cockpit her family-friendly design dictated that the traveller is aft of the twin tillers, out of harm’s way, and there’s a wedge moulded into the cockpit sole for bracing feet in this wide cockpit. Stowage is in two full-depth quarter lockers and will be even better in the standard two-cabin version.
Down below, heavily tick the options sheet and you’ll get all the basics attractively covered
The galley is secure, compact and functional
The heads is, again, compact but functional. The window into the saloon lets in more light but does limit privacy a touch
Aft of the heads is a small nav station and the third cabin
The main aft cabin to starboard seems pretty big for a 32-footer, decent stowage too
Down below, there’s standing headroom for those just under 6ft at the base of the companionway, a small galley to starboard and a heads to port. Aft of the heads is a small nav station and aft again, the smaller of the two double cabins (it’s a technical area on the two cabin layout). The saloon has a fixed table with two leaves and a V-berth forward with a fabric ‘door’. The windows, particularly the huge one on the forward coachroof, ensure plenty of light below.
Does she justify what seems to be a fairly punchy price tag? Build quality looks pretty good (though I wondered about that as the sole boards creaked beneath my feet) but you’d need to sail her to decide that, that’s going to be her strongest suit. And that will mean a trip to Brittany as there’s no UK dealer – yet!
Who would she suit?
A young family that likes sporty shorthanded sailing would love this boat. I bet it’s an absolute hoot to sail.
Price as seen, around €180,000 inc VAT (Around £136,872 inc VAT)
LOA 9.8m 32ft 2in
LWL 9.8m 32ft 2in
Cabins 2/3 (if a cabin can have a fabric door…)
Beam 3.6m 11ft 10in
Draught 1.95m 6ft 5in (there are twin and lift keel options)
Displacement 3,300kg 7,275lbs (for fixed and lifting keel, 3,600kg 7,936lb for twin keel)
Contact Marée Haute
Tel +33 7 88 21 68 61
Website www.mareehaute.fr